Alison Byrnes (Cunningham, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently, we celebrated Early Learning Matters Week across the country. High-quality early childhood education gives children the best start in life. In an electorate like mine, where one in four people are under the age of 14, early childhood centres are vital to our community. During my time in parliament, I have met with hundreds of childcare workers across Hampton Park, Narre Warren South, Lynbrook, Cranbourne, Cranbourne West and Clyde.

I have seen firsthand the hard work and dedication these workers put into caring for and raising our children. That's why I am proud to be a part of a government that recognises their efforts by funding a 15 per cent pay rise for all early childhood educators nationwide. This means an extra $103 per week for these essential workers. This wage increase is tied to a commitment from childcare centres to limit fee increases. We want to ensure workers are fairly paid without passing the cost onto families. This builds on our increase to the childcare subsidy last year, and is another way the Albanese Labor government is supporting families in Holt.